Conference call replay

ABSTRACT

Call replay systems and methods are disclosed. A call replay system can record a telephonic communication and replay the recorded communication upon request. The entire communication may be recorded, or only a portion, such as the most recent few minutes. The entire recording can be transmitted to a requester, or only a portion. The recording may be altered before it is transmitted to a requestor. Alterations may include actions taken to reduce playback time, such as removing spaces in the recording where no conversation is taking place, or speeding up the recording. Other alterations may include adjusting the sonic characteristics of the recording, translating the recording, or transcribing the recording to create a text version.

BACKGROUND

With the increasing availability and use of technology in the workplaceand at home, people are more likely to be working on two or more tasksat the same time, often referred to as “multitasking”. Becausecommunications technology has become more advanced and less expensive,and because traveling to meetings has become more expensive and, attimes, more risky, meetings are often held over the telephone in theform of conference calls. Meeting attendees often multitask whileparticipating in a conference call. This may result in an attendeemissing parts of the conference call due to distractions from othertasks the attendee may be performing. This may also be a problem withsimple two party telephone calls. Other situations may occur while usinga telephone where the user did not hear or did not understand some partof the conversation. In these and other situations there exists a needto improve to ability of a telephone user to understand and participatein a telephonic communication.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods are provided herein for recording a telephoniccommunication and transmitting the recorded telephonic communication toa requesting user. Recording of the telephonic communication maycommence at the initiation of the telephonic communication,automatically or as configured by a user, or it may commence uponinstruction from a participant in the communication or another user ordevice. The entire communication may be recorded, or only a portion. Theportion recorded may be specified by a user or set to a particularportion. For example, the most recent few minutes of a telephoniccommunication may be recorded, and the portions of the recordedtelephonic communication that are older than the most recent few minutesmay be deleted.

Upon request for the recorded telephonic communication, the system maytransmit the recorded telephonic communication to only the requestingparty using a separate channel, or may transmit the recorded telephoniccommunication to all participants in the telephonic communication.

Before transmission of the recorded telephonic communication, therecorded telephonic communication may be altered. Several ways ofaltering the recorded telephonic communication are disclosed, includingcutting out space in the recording where no conversation is takingplace, speeding up the playback of the recording, and altering the soniccharacteristics of the recording. The recorded telephonic communicationmay also be transcribed and provided in text form to a requesting user,or translated and provided to a requesting user (in a text or audioversion) in a different language.

These and other features and advantages of various exemplary embodimentsof systems and methods according to this disclosure are described in, orare apparent from, the following detailed description of variousexemplary embodiments of the systems and methods of this subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described indetail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like numeralsrepresent like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a non-limiting, exemplary call replaysystem including communications devices, a network, and users.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a non-limiting, exemplary method ofimplementing a call replay system.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of another non-limiting, exemplary method ofimplementing a call replay system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a non-limiting, exemplary wireless devicethat may be used in connection with an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a non-limiting, exemplary processor inwhich the present subject matter may be implemented.

FIG. 6 is an overall block diagram of an exemplary packet-based mobilecellular network environment, such as a GPRS network, in which thepresent subject matter may be implemented.

FIG. 7 illustrates a non-limiting, exemplary architecture of a typicalGPRS network as segmented into four groups.

FIG. 8 illustrates a non-limiting alternate block diagram of anexemplary GSM/GPRS/IP multimedia network architecture in which thepresent subject matter may be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The subject matter of the disclosed embodiments is described withspecificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the descriptionitself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, theinventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might alsobe embodied in other ways, to include different steps or elementssimilar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction withother present or future technologies. Moreover, although the term “step”may be used herein to connote different aspects of methods employed, theterm should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among orbetween various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the orderof individual steps is explicitly described.

In the discussion that follows, details relating to telephony devicesand networks are assumed to be known to those skilled in the art.Accordingly, such details are largely omitted herein for the sake ofclarity and explanation. In addition, any references herein to anexample embodiment involving a cellular, wireless, or mobile telephoneare used solely for purposes of explanation, and are not intended tolimit the invention to any such embodiment. For example, a wirelessdevice as contemplated by various embodiments of the invention mayinclude, but is not limited to: cellular telephones, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), email devices, portable and non-portable computers,and the like. The wireless device may operate in a cellular, SMR, PCS,cordless, unlicensed AWS, 700 MHz, or other spectrums. Furthermore,embodiments are not limited by the network servicing the device.Accordingly, embodiments may be applicable to any network typeincluding, for example, TDMA, CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, WiFi, WiMAX, OFDM, UMTS,EV-DO, HSDPA/HSUPA, and other standards now known or to be developed inthe future.

Modern communications devices allow people to communicate with oneanother through many different channels. Standard telephones, worktelephones, mobile telephones and other mobile devices, and the varioustypes of computers and computing devices provide a plethora ofcommunications options to the average person. These devices also provideample opportunity for working several tasks at once, often called“multitasking”. With the cost of obtaining and using such devicescontinuing to decrease, the communications options available will expandeven further, as will the opportunities for multitasking. However, aproblem often occurs when a user is unable to understand or did not heara portion of a telephonic communication. This may be due tomultitasking, or it may be due to other causes, such as backgroundnoise, inattention, or any of the myriad of interferences that haveaffected telephonic communications since the inception of the telephone.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 including communications devices, anetwork, and a network device that may be in use during a telephoniccommunication. User 101 may be participating in a telephoniccommunication with users 102 and 103. This may be a three-way call, aconference call, or any other form of voice communications. It iscontemplated that any other number of users, including one user may beparticipating in a telephonic communication with any other users and/ordevices. For example, a user may be communicating with an automatedsystem rather than one or more other users.

User 101 may be operating mobile communications device 111 as a means toparticipate in the telephonic communication. Mobile communicationsdevice 111 may be any type of mobile communications device as describedherein, or any device capable of wirelessly facilitating telephoniccommunications. For example, mobile communications device 111 may be amobile, wireless, and/or cellular telephone of any type, a personal dataassistant (PDA), a laptop or other mobile computer, or any other mobiletelephony-capable device.

Similarly, user 103 may be using mobile communications device 113 toparticipate in the telephonic communication. Mobile communicationsdevice 113 may also be any type of mobile communications device asdescribed herein, or any device capable of wirelessly facilitatingtelephonic communications. For example, mobile communications device 113may be a cellular telephone, a mobile telephone of any type, a personaldata assistant (PDA), a laptop or other mobile computer, or any othermobile telephony-capable device.

User 102 may be using wired communications device 112 to participate inthe telephonic communication. Wired communications device 112 may be anytype of wired communications device capable of facilitating telephoniccommunications, including a traditional telephone, an internet protocol(IP) telephone, a digital telephone, a computer of any type configuredto facilitate telephonic communications, or any other wiredtelephony-capable device.

Users 101, 102, and 103, through the operation of devices 111, 112, and113, may be communicating through network 110. Network 110 may be one ormore wired and/or wireless network of any type, non-limiting examples ofwhich are described herein, or any combinations thereof. Any form oftelecommunications, voice, or data network, or any combination of suchnetworks, may be present in network 110.

Network device 104 may be communicatively connected to network 110, maybe a subsystem of network 110, and may be operated, owned, and/ormaintained by the operator of network 110 or by a third party. Networkdevice 104 may or may not be geographically located in the same room,building, region, or area as other devices that make up network 110.Network device 104 may facilitate the telephonic communication betweenuser 101, 102, and 103. Network device 104 may provide telephonyservices as known to those skilled in the art. For example, networkdevice 104 may function as a private branch exchange (PBX). In oneembodiment, network device 104 provides call replay services asdescribed herein.

Network device 104 may be configured to record the telephoniccommunication between users 101, 102, and 103. Network device 104 mayalso be configured to perform other network tasks, or may be configuredonly for recording telephonic communications. The recording may beperformed using any means known to those skilled in the art, includingstoring the communication on one or more computer storage devices, suchas a hard disk drive or random access memory, recording thecommunication on magnetic or digital tape, disks, or other media, or anyother effective recording means. Network device 104 may also beconfigured to accept instructions and/or commands from users and/orother network devices directly and/or through network 110.

In one embodiment, network device 104 is configured to record only aportion of the telephonic communication. For example, network device 104may be configured to record only the most recent portion of thecommunication, such as the most recent two minutes. Alternatively,network device 104 may be configured to accept commands from one ofusers 101, 102, and/or 103, or another user or device, that instructnetwork device 104 to record a specified portion of the telephoniccommunication. Such commands may be transmitted to network device 104through network 110. Such commands may be issued using a device, such asmobile communications device 111. For example, user 101 may press one ormore keys on the keypad of mobile communications device 111 during thetelephonic communication. The activation of the one or more keys maycause a signal to be transmitted to network device 104 that instructsnetwork device 104 to perform a task or alter a configuration parameter.The signal may be the form of traditional telephony tones, or any otherform of communication, such as a data command, packet or framecontaining the instructions, etc.

Alternatively, network device 104 may detect voice commands, or anotherdevice communicatively connected to network device 104 may detect voicecommands and transmit such commands to network device 104. In yetanother alternative, network device 104 may receive instructions fromone or more users or devices through a data interface. For example, user101 may interface with network device 104 using a web page displayed onmobile communications device 111 or on another device. Commands andinstructions may be provided by any user, or by a subset of users, suchas a designated chairman in a conference call system. Any means ormethod may be used to transmit instructions to network device 104 and/orlimit the users permitted to transmit such instructions, and all suchmeans and methods are contemplated as within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

Network device 104 may be configured, or instructed, to begin recordingthe telephonic communication as soon as it begins, or at a specifictime. For example, as a subsystem of a conference calling system,network device 104 may be connected to the conference call and beginrecording the telephonic communication on the call at the call'sinception. Alternatively, each user of the conference call system mayhave the ability to send an instruction to network device 104 thatinstructs network device 104 to begin recording the telephoniccommunication. Such recorded telephonic communication may then beaccessible by the user who sent the instruction and/or by other users.In another alternative, in a conference call system, a chairman or otheruser in control of the conference call may be the only user that ispermitted to instruct device 104 to begin recording the telephoniccommunication. Any other permutation of users and/or devices that arepermitted or configured to instruct network device 104 to record atelephonic communication are contemplated as within the scope of thepresent disclosure.

Once recording of the telephonic communication has begun, playback ofthe recorded telephonic communication may be available. For example,user 101 may be participating in a conference call with users 102 and103. User 101 may have been unable to hear the last comment made duringthe conference call. User 101 may transmit an instruction using mobilecommunications device 111 to network device 104 requesting that therecorded telephonic communication be played back. Such an instructionmay be transmitted through the activation of one or more keys on mobilecommunications device 111. For example, the activation of the ‘*’ keymay instruct network device 104 to transmit the recorded telephoniccommunication. Alternatively, user 101 may operate an interface tonetwork device 104 using other means, such as a web page, textmessaging, email, or any other means of communication. The means ofcommunicating with network device 104 may be operated through mobilecommunications device 111, or through an alternative device separatefrom mobile communications device 111, such as a computer with a webbrowser configured to connect to network device 104.

In another alternative, playback of the recorded telephoniccommunication may be implemented through the detection of voicecommands. For example, a user may say a word or phrase (e.g. “playback”) which, when detected by network device 104 or a related device,instructs network device 104 to play back a portion of a recordedtelephonic communication. Alternatively, network device 104 may beconfigured to detect the spoken name or other identifier of aparticipant and play back a portion of the recorded telephoniccommunication to the identified participant. For example, users John andBob may be participants on a conference call utilizing a conference callsystem incorporating a call replay system as described herein. John maysay at some point in the conversation “Bob, what do you think aboutthat?” Network device 104, or an associated device, may detect the word“Bob” and recognize that word as an instruction to play back a portionof the recorded telephonic communication to Bob. Any other means ormethod of communicating and/or transmitting instructions to networkdevice 104 is contemplated as within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

Upon receiving the instruction or command to play back the recordedtelephonic communication, network device 104 may transmit the recordedtelephonic communication. In one embodiment, only the requesting usermay receive the transmission of the recorded telephonic communication.For example, user 101 may receive the recorded telephonic communicationon mobile communications device 111 via a separate channel, so that user101 can hear the recorded telephonic communication, but the otherparticipants on the conference call or telephonic communication cannot.Alternatively, the recorded telephonic communication may be transmittedsuch that all participants on the conference call or telephoniccommunication can hear the transmission. In yet another alternative, asubset of the participants or a single participant on a conference callor telephonic communication may be able to hear transmissions of therecorded telephonic communication. Such a subset may be configured byone or more of the participants, or may be determined by other means,such as device capabilities, etc. For the users or participants whoreceive the transmitted recorded telephonic communication, the volume ofthe ongoing call may be lowered or muted entirely while the recordedtelephonic communication is transmitted. Any combination or permutationof participants permitted to hear a transmission of a recordedtelephonic communication is contemplated as within the scope of thepresent disclosure.

Network device 104 may transmit the entire recorded telephoniccommunication upon instruction. For example, if network device 104 hasbeen configured to record or transmit the most recent one minute of atelephonic communication, upon instruction, network device 104 maytransmit the recorded telephonic communication starting at one minuteprior to receiving the instruction. Alternatively, a user may request aspecific portion of the recorded telephonic communication. User 101, incombination with the request to transmit the recorded telephoniccommunication, may request the portion of the recorded telephoniccommunication to be transmitted. For example, in one embodiment, wherethe activation of the ‘*’ key may instruct network device 104 totransmit the recorded telephonic communication, the activation of the‘1’ key may instruct network device 104 to play the most recent oneminute of the recorded telephonic communication. Thus, user 101 maypress “*1” on mobile communications device 111 to instruct networkdevice 104 to play back the last one minute of the recorded telephoniccommunication. Alternatively, user 101 may activate a control on aninterface to network device 104, such as a web page, either using mobilecommunications device 111 or some other device, to instruct networkdevice 104 to transmit the recorded telephonic communication. Other keycombinations and other forms of providing instructions to network device104 are contemplated as within the scope of the present disclosure.

In one embodiment, a user may have the option to instruct network device104 to transmit the recorded telephonic communication to one or moreparticular devices. For example, user 101 may interface with networkdevice 104 through a web page that allows user 101 to select mobilecommunications device 111, mobile communications device 113, wiredcommunications device 112, and/or other devices as the recipient(s) of atransmission of the recorded telephonic communication. Alternatively,only a default device may receive the transmission, such as therequesting device. In another embodiment, one or more selectparticipants on a conference call or telephonic communication, or one ormore specific users of network device 104 or a conference call systemmay have the ability to select recipient devices for transmissions ofrecorded telephonic communications. All combinations and permutations ofrecipients of recorded telephonic communications are contemplated.

The transmission of the recorded telephonic communication may beuninterruptable so that, once initiated, the entire recorded telephoniccommunication, or the selected subset thereof, is transmitted to therequesting device or user, or selected device or users. Alternatively, acommand or instruction may be transmitted to network device 104instructing network device 104 to stop transmitting the recordedtelephonic communication. Such a command or instruction may take theform of the activation of a key on a key pad of a device, such as mobilecommunications device 111, or the activation of a control on aninterface to network device 104, such as a web page.

In another embodiment, network device 104 may be configured toautomatically stop transmission of the recorded telephonic communicationwhen the requesting user, or another user, begins speaking. This may beaccomplished by detecting the voice of the speaker in the conferencecall or telephonic communication. For example, if user 101 did not hearthe last comment in a conference call, user 101 may send an instructionto network device 104 to play the recorded telephonic communication.Once user 101 gets the gist of the last comment, user 101 may beginspeaking to respond to the last comment. This speech may be detected, bynetwork device 104 or by one or more other devices connected to network110 that communicate with network device 104, and network device 104 maystop, or be instructed to stop, the transmission of the recordedtelephonic communication. Other means and methods are contemplated ofstopping and/or instructing network device 104 to stop the transmissionof a recorded telephonic communication.

In one embodiment, network device 104 may alter the recorded telephoniccommunication before or during transmission. In one alternative, networkdevice 104 may speed up the recorded telephonic communication so thatthe recorded information can be heard in less time. For example, networkdevice 104 may record the most recent two minutes of a conference callor telephonic communication, and then transmit the recorded telephoniccommunication in one minute. In one embodiment, network device 104 isconfigured to play back recorded telephonic communications at a higherspeed automatically, while in another embodiment, the speed of playbackmay be provided via an instruction from a requesting user or another,using any of the instruction means described herein or known to thoseskilled in the art.

Playback at a higher speed may be accompanied by other alteration thatmake the user experience more enjoyable. For example, the pitch, octave,or other sonic characteristics of the recorded telephonic communicationmay be altered so that, when played at a higher speed, the voices on therecorded telephonic communication still sound normal rather thanhigh-pitched. Other sonic alterations are contemplated. Such alterationsmay be performed automatically by network device 104, or may beperformed upon instruction by a user, device, or other means, using anyof the instruction means described herein or known to those skilled inthe art.

In one embodiment, space, blanks, or “dead air” may be removed from therecorded telephonic communication as it is recorded, or before or duringtransmission. For example, in the interest of reducing the time requiredto play back a recorded telephonic communication, pauses betweenconversation may be removed. Network device 104 may be configured todiscriminate between pauses and spaces between words, in one embodiment,using a predetermined amount of time of dead air as an indicator that apause is to be removed. Means and methods of determining pauses in arecorded conversation are known to those skilled in the art, and allsuch means and methods are contemplated as within the scope of thepresent disclosure.

In another embodiment, the recorded telephonic communication may betranscribed into text by network device 104, or sent to another devicefor transcription, instead of, or in addition to, transmitting anaudible version of the recorded telephonic communication. This may bedone automatically, or on request or instruction of a user using any ofthe instructing methods and means described herein. Such a transcriptionmay be provided to a user via email, text message, web page interface,or any other method or means capable of providing text to a user. Theamount and portion of the recorded telephonic communication that istranscribed and provided to a user may be specified using any of themeans and methods described herein to specify a portion of the recordedtelephonic communication to be transmitted. Means and methods oftranscribing voice data into text are known to those skilled in the art,and all such means and methods are contemplated as within the scope ofthe present disclosure.

In yet another embodiment, the recorded telephonic communication may betranslated into another language by network device 104, or sent toanother device for translation, instead of, or in addition to,transmitting the recorded telephonic communication as recorded in theoriginal language. This may be done automatically, or on request orinstruction of a user using any of the instructing methods and meansdescribed herein. Alternatively, translated versions of the recordedtelephonic communication may be provided in a transcribed form viaemail, text message, web page interface, or any other method or meanscapable of providing text to a user. The amount and portion of therecorded telephonic communication that is translated and provided to auser may be specified using any of the means and methods describedherein to specify a portion of the recorded telephonic communication tobe transmitted. Means and methods of translating recordings into anotherlanguage are known to those skilled in the art, and all such means andmethods are contemplated as within the scope of the present disclosure.

In one embodiment, the call replay system and features described abovemay be implemented on a user device, such as mobile communicationsdevice 111, rather than, or in addition to, a network device such asnetwork device 104. Alternatively, network device 104 may be a componentor subsystem of a communications device, such as mobile communicationsdevices 111 or 113, or wired communications device 112. Thus, thefunctions and features described herein may be performed on acommunications device, such as recording telephonic communications,receiving commands and/or instructions affecting the configuration andcontrol of a call replay system, and transmitting and/or transcribingrecorded telephonic communication data. All such embodiments, and anyembodiments combining wired and/or mobile communications devices andnetwork devices, are contemplated as within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a non-limiting, exemplary method 200 of implementinga call replay system. Once a telephonic communication has begun, or atelephonic communication recording system has been instructed to beginrecording, the telephonic communication recording begins at block 210.At block 220, the elapsed time since the recording started is detected.At block 220, it is determined whether the elapsed time is greater thana configured recording time. The configured recording time may beconfigured by a user, administrator, or another device through aninterface to a call replay system as described above in regard toFIG. 1. Alternatively, the configured recording time may be hard-codedto a set amount of time.

If the elapsed time is not greater than the configured recording time,the method returns to block 220. If the elapsed time is greater than theconfigured recording time, at block 240 the portion of the recordedtelephonic communication that is older than the configured recordingtime may be deleted. For example, if the call replay system isconfigured to store two minutes of recorded telephonic communication,those portions of the recorded telephonic communication that wererecorded longer than two minutes ago may be deleted. In anotheralternative, those portions of the recorded telephonic communicationolder than the configured recording time may be retained permanently,and may be accessible to users or select users or administrators of thecall replay system. In another alternative, those portions of therecorded telephonic communication older than the configured recordingtime may be retained as long as memory or storage space is available, oruntil a storage threshold is reached. After such a threshold is reached,or storage space is no longer available, those portions of the recordedtelephonic communication older than the configured recording time maythen be deleted. Various means and methods of determining when and howto delete portions of a recorded telephonic communication arecontemplated as within the scope of the present disclosure.

At block 250, a determination is made as to whether the telephoniccommunication is ongoing. If so, the method returns to block 240 todelete portions of the recorded telephonic communication older than theconfigured recording time. If the telephonic communication is notongoing, the method is exited.

FIG. 3 illustrates another non-limiting, exemplary method 300 ofimplementing a call replay system. At block 310, recording of thetelephonic communication is started through any means or methodsdescribed herein. Once a telephonic communication is in progress, arequest for call replay may be received at block 320. As describedelsewhere in this disclosure, the request may be received on a devicededicated to call replay functions, a device that provides other networkfunctions as well as call replay, a communications device such as amobile telephone or computer or a wired telephone or computer, or anycombination thereof. The request may take the form of a command orinstructions issued from device operated by a user. For example, a usermay activate keys on a key pad of a telephone that transmit a tone thatmay be recognized as a request for call replay. Alternatively, suchtones may be intercepted by intermediate network equipment andtranslated or otherwise used to generate instructions or commands thatare transmitted to the call replay system. In yet another alternative,in an embodiment wherein at least a portion of the call replay system iscontained on a communications device, the key activation may be detecteddirectly on the device by the call replay system.

In an alternative embodiment, requests are received through an interfaceto the call replay system. This interface may be a web page, a softwareapplication, or other means. For example, a user may operate a mobilecommunications device with data and telephony capabilities to conduct atelephone call. The user may, while conducting the telephone call,activate a web browser and access a web page that interfaces with thecall replay system. Alternatively, the user may activate an applicationinstalled on the mobile communications device that is configured tocommunicate with the call replay system. The user may issue commandsand/or instructions to the call replay system through the web page orapplication interface.

The request received at block 320 may contain parameters, instructions,or other indicators of requestor preferences. For example, the requestmay include a preference for transmission of the recorded telephoniccommunication at a speed faster than normal. Alternatively, the requestmay include a preference for removal of dead air from the recordedtelephonic communication. In another alternative, the request mayinclude an instruction to transmit a transcribed version of the recordedtelephonic communication to an email address or text message address.Such addresses may also be included in the request. In yet anotheralternative, the request may include instructions to transmit therecorded telephonic communication to specific devices or users, inaddition to or instead of the requesting user. In still anotheralternative, the request may include instructions to transmit a versionof the recorded telephonic communication translated into anotherlanguage. Any other options or preferences that may be requested arecontemplated as within the scope of the present disclosure.

At block 330, a determination is made as to whether the recordedtelephonic communication requires alteration. Alteration may be requireddue to the parameter or instructions supplied with the request as setforth above in regard to block 320. Alternatively, the call replaysystem may be configured to alter all requested recorded telephoniccommunications. For example, the call replay system may be configured toremove all dead air from recorded telephonic communications. Otherdefault, or preconfigured, alteration requirements are contemplated.

In some embodiments, alterations may be performed on the telephoniccommunication before or during the recording of the recorded telephoniccommunication. For example, instead of removing dead air from aconversation, the spaces that make up the dead air may not be recordedat all. Alternatively, the recording may be made in a higher speed sothat it may be played back at normal speed in a shorter amount of time.In yet another alternative, sonic characteristics of the telephoniccommunication may be modified before it is recorded. In still anotherembodiment, a transcription may be made of the telephonic communication,and the transcription may be stored instead of recording the telephoniccommunication. All other alterations of a telephonic communication thatmay be performed before, during, or after such a telephoniccommunication is recorded are contemplated as within the scope of thepresent disclosure.

If no alterations are required, the recorded telephonic communication istransmitted at block 350. The transmission of the recorded telephoniccommunication may take the form of any effective means, includingtransmitting audio over a traditional telephone network, transmittingdata packets that are assembled into audio, transmitting audio directlyfrom a communications device, transmitting audio to other recipientsother than, or in addition to, the requester, transmitting an email,text message, or other message containing a transcribed version of therecorded telephonic communication, or any other effective means ormethod of transmitting the recorded telephonic communication. All suchmeans and methods of transmitting any version, type, format, orequivalent of the recorded telephonic communication are contemplated aswithin the scope of the present disclosure.

If alterations to the recorded telephonic communication are required, atblock 340 the alterations are performed. The alterations may be any ofthose described in this disclosure, or any other alterations which maybe of interest to a user. The altered recorded telephonic communicationis transmitted at block 350 using any of the means or methods describedherein.

Note that any of the methods, systems, and means described herein may beused for any type of audible data and with any technology. For example,rather than telephone conversations, the methods and means recitedherein may be applied to any type of conversation, such as those in arecorded medium or those recorded without the participation of the userrequesting the recording. Note also that the call replay system asdescribed herein may be integrated into other telephony orcommunications related systems and devices, such as a conference callsystem, a wireless or wireline communications system, or any other typeof communications system or device. All such embodiments arecontemplated as within the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example wireless device 1010 that may be used inconnection with an embodiment. References will also be made to otherfigures of the present disclosure as appropriate. For example, mobilecommunications devices 111 and 113 may each be a wireless device of thetype described in regard to FIG. 4, and may have some, all, or none ofthe components and modules described in regard to FIG. 4. It will beappreciated that the components and modules of wireless device 1010illustrated in FIG. 4 are illustrative, and that any number and type ofcomponents and/or modules may be present in wireless device 1010. Inaddition, the functions performed by any or all of the components andmodules illustrated in FIG. 4 may be performed by any number of physicalcomponents. Thus, it is possible that in some embodiments thefunctionality of more than one component and/or module illustrated inFIG. 4 may be performed by any number or types of hardware and/orsoftware.

Processor 1021 may be any type of circuitry that performs operations onbehalf of wireless device 1010. In one embodiment, processor 1021executes software (i.e., computer readable instructions stored in acomputer readable medium) that may include functionality related totransmitting and receiving telephonic communications, communicatingwith, operating, or interfacing with a call replay system, and/orrunning software configured to operate, communicate, or interface with acall replay system, for example. User interface module 1022 may be anytype or combination of hardware and/or software that enables a user tooperate and interact with wireless device 1010, and, in one embodiment,to interact with a call replay system. For example, user interfacemodule 1022 may include a display, physical and “soft” keys, voicerecognition software, microphone, speaker and the like. Wirelesscommunication module 1023 may be any type or combination of hardwareand/or software that enables wireless device 1010 to communicate with,for example, network 110 or any other type of wireless communicationsnetwork. Memory 1024 enables wireless device 1010 to store information,recorded telephonic communication, call replay software, a web browser,or the like. Memory 1024 may take any form, such as internal randomaccess memory (RAM), an SD card, a microSD card and the like. Powersupply 1025 may be a battery or other type of power input (e.g., acharging cable that is connected to an electrical outlet, etc.) that iscapable of powering wireless device 1010.

Recording module 1026 may be any type or combination of hardware and/orsoftware that enables wireless device 1010 to record telephoniccommunications. In one embodiment, processor 1021 may perform thefunctions of recording module 1026. In an alternative embodiment,recording module 1026 may be separate from processor 1023.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example processor 1158 which may beemployed in any of the embodiments described herein, including as one ormore components of mobile communications devices 111 or 113, or wiredcommunications device 112, as one or more components of communicationsnetwork equipment or related equipment, such as any component of network110, and/or as one or more components of any third party system orsubsystem that may implement any portion of the subject matter describedherein, such as network device 104. It is emphasized that the blockdiagram depicted in FIG. 5 is exemplary and not intended to imply aspecific implementation. Thus, the processor 1158 can be implemented ina single processor or multiple processors. Multiple processors can bedistributed or centrally located. Multiple processors can communicatewirelessly, via hard wire, or a combination thereof.

The processor 1158 comprises a processing portion 1160, a memory portion1162, and an input/output portion 1164. The processing portion 560,memory portion 562, and input/output portion 1164 are coupled together(coupling not shown in FIG. 5) to allow communications between theseportions. The input/output portion 1164 is capable of providing and/orreceiving components, commands, and/or instructions, utilized to, forexample, operate a call replay system or any subsystem or componentthereof.

The processor 1158 can be implemented as a client processor and/or aserver processor. In a basic configuration, the processor 1158 mayinclude at least one processing portion 1160 and memory portion 1162.The memory portion 1162 can store any information utilized inconjunction with transmitting, receiving, and/or processing call replayinstructions or commands, call replay applications, telephoniccommunications, recorded telephonic communications, etc. For example, asdescribed above, the memory portion is capable of storing recordedtelephonic communications and/or software capable of operating a callreplay system. Depending upon the exact configuration and type ofprocessor, the memory portion 1162 can be volatile (such as RAM) 1166,non-volatile (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.) 1168, or a combinationthereof. The processor 1158 can have additional features/functionality.For example, the processor 1158 can include additional storage(removable storage 1170 and/or non-removable storage 1172) including,but not limited to, magnetic or optical disks, tape, flash, smart cardsor a combination thereof. Computer storage media, such as memory andstorage elements 1162, 1170, 1172, 1166, and 1168, include volatile andnonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any methodor technology for storage of information such as computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computerstorage media include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flashmemory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD)or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magneticdisk storage or other magnetic storage devices, universal serial bus(USB) compatible memory, smart cards, or any other medium which can beused to store the desired information and which can be accessed by theprocessor 1158. Any such computer storage media may be part of theprocessor 1158.

The processor 1158 can also contain the communications connection(s)1180 that allow the processor 1158 to communicate with other devices,for example through network 110. Communications connection(s) 1180 is anexample of communication media. Communication media typically embodycomputer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules orother data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or othertransport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. Theterm “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of itscharacteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode informationin the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communicationmedia includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wiredconnection as might be used with a land line telephone, and wirelessmedia such as acoustic, RF, infrared, cellular, and other wirelessmedia. The term computer-readable media as used herein includes bothstorage media and communication media. The processor 1158 also can haveinput device(s) 1176 such as keyboard, keypad, mouse, pen, voice inputdevice, touch input device, etc. Output device(s) 1174 such as adisplay, speakers, printer, etc. also can be included.

Network 110 may comprise any appropriate telephony radio network, or anyother type of communications network, wireline or wireless, or anycombination thereof. The following description sets forth some exemplarytelephony radio networks, such as the global system for mobilecommunications (GSM), and non-limiting operating environments. Thebelow-described operating environments should be considerednon-exhaustive, however, and thus the below-described networkarchitectures merely show how IP cellular broadcast may be used withstationary and non-stationary network structures and architectures. Itcan be appreciated, however, that call replay systems such as thosedescribed herein can be incorporated with existing and/or futurealternative architectures for communication networks as well.

The GSM is one of the most widely utilized wireless access systems intoday's fast growing communication environment. The GSM providescircuit-switched data services to subscribers, such as mobile telephoneor computer users. The General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), which is anextension to GSM technology, introduces packet switching to GSMnetworks. The GPRS uses a packet-based wireless communication technologyto transfer high and low speed data and signaling in an efficientmanner. The GPRS attempts to optimize the use of network and radioresources, thus enabling the cost effective and efficient use of GSMnetwork resources for packet mode applications.

As one of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate, the exemplaryGSM/GPRS environment and services described herein also can be extendedto 3G services, such as Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS),Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) and Time Division Duplexing (TDD),High Speed Packet Data Access (HSPDA), cdma2000 1x Evolution DataOptimized (EVDO), Code Division Multiple Access-2000 (cdma2000 3x), TimeDivision Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA), WidebandCode Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Enhanced Data GSM Environment(EDGE), International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000), DigitalEnhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), 4β Services such as LongTerm Evolution (LTE), etc., as well as to other network services thatbecome available in time. In this regard, the systems and methods of acall replay system can be applied independently of the method of datatransport, and do not depend on any particular network architecture, orunderlying protocols.

FIG. 6 depicts an overall block diagram of an exemplary packet-basedmobile cellular network environment, such as a GPRS network, in whichcall replay systems such as those described herein can be practiced. Inan example configuration, network 110 may be encompassed by the networkenvironment depicted in FIG. 6. In such an environment, there may be aplurality of Base Station Subsystems (BSS) 900 (only one is shown), eachof which comprises a Base Station Controller (BSC) 902 serving aplurality of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) such as BTSs 904, 906, and908. BTSs 904, 906, 908, etc. are the access points where users ofpacket-based mobile devices (e.g., mobile communications device 111 or113) become connected to the wireless network. In exemplary fashion, thepacket traffic originating from user devices (e.g., mobilecommunications devices 111 and 113) may be transported via anover-the-air interface to a BTS 908, and from the BTS 908 to the BSC902. Base station subsystems, such as BSS 900, may be a part of internalframe relay network 910 that can include Service GPRS Support Nodes(SGSN) such as SGSN 912 and 914. Each SGSN may be connected to aninternal packet network 920 through which a SGSN 912, 914, etc. mayroute data packets to and from a plurality of gateway GPRS support nodes(GGSN) 922, 924, 926, etc. As illustrated, SGSN 914 and GGSNs 922, 924,and 926 may be part of internal packet network 920. Gateway GPRS servingnodes 922, 924 and 926 may provide an interface to external InternetProtocol (IP) networks, such as Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) 950,corporate intranets 940, or Fixed-End System (FES) or the publicInternet 930. As illustrated, subscriber corporate network 940 may beconnected to GGSN 924 via firewall 932; and PLMN 950 may be connected toGGSN 924 via border gateway router 934. The Remote AuthenticationDial-In User Service (RADIUS) server 942 may be used for callerauthentication when a user of a mobile cellular device calls corporatenetwork 940.

Generally, there can be four different cell sizes in a GSM network,referred to as macro, micro, pico, and umbrella cells. The coverage areaof each cell is different in different environments. Macro cells may beregarded as cells in which the base station antenna is installed in amast or a building above average roof top level. Micro cells are cellswhose antenna height is under average roof top level. Micro-cells may betypically used in urban areas. Pico cells are small cells having adiameter of a few dozen meters. Pico cells may be used mainly indoors.On the other hand, umbrella cells may be used to cover shadowed regionsof smaller cells and fill in gaps in coverage between those cells.

FIG. 7 illustrates an architecture of a typical GPRS network segmentedinto four groups: users 1050, radio access network 1060, core network1070, and interconnect network 1080. Users 1050 may comprise a pluralityof end users (though only mobile subscriber 1055 is shown in FIG. 7). Inan example embodiment, the device depicted as mobile subscriber 1055 maycomprise mobile communications devices 111 and/or 113. Radio accessnetwork 1060 comprises a plurality of base station subsystems such asBSSs 1062, which include BTSs 1064 and BSCs 1066. Core network 1070comprises a host of various network elements. As illustrated here, corenetwork 1070 may comprise Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 1071, ServiceControl Point (SCP) 1072, gateway MSC 1073, SGSN 1076, Home LocationRegister (HLR) 1074, Authentication Center (AuC) 1075, Domain NameServer (DNS) 1077, and GGSN 1078. Interconnect network 1080 may alsocomprise a host of various networks and other network elements. Asillustrated in FIG. 7, interconnect network 1080 comprises PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN) 1082, Fixed-End System (FES) orInternet 1084, firewall 1088, and Corporate Network 1089.

A mobile switching center may be connected to a large number of basestation controllers. At MSC 1071, for instance, depending on the type oftraffic, the traffic may be separated in that voice may be sent toPublic Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 1082 through Gateway MSC (GMSC)1073, and/or data may be sent to SGSN 1076, which then sends the datatraffic to GGSN 1078 for further forwarding.

When MSC 1071 receives call traffic, for example, from BSC 1066, it maysend a query to a database hosted by SCP 1072. The SCP 1072 may processthe request and may issue a response to MSC 1071 so that it may continuecall processing as appropriate.

The HLR 1074 may be a centralized database for users to register to theGPRS network. HLR 1074 may store static information about thesubscribers such as the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI),subscribed services, and a key for authenticating the subscriber. HLR1074 may also store dynamic subscriber information such as the currentlocation of the mobile subscriber. HLR 1074 may also serve to interceptand determine the validity of destination numbers in messages sent froma device, such as mobile subscriber 1055, as described herein.Associated with HLR 1074 may be AuC 1075. AuC 1075 may be a databasethat contains the algorithms for authenticating subscribers and mayinclude the associated keys for encryption to safeguard the user inputfor authentication.

In the following, depending on context, the term “mobile subscriber”sometimes refers to the end user and sometimes to the actual portabledevice, such as mobile communications device 111 or 113, used by an enduser of the mobile cellular service. When a mobile subscriber turns onhis or her mobile device, the mobile device may go through an attachprocess by which the mobile device attaches to an SGSN of the GPRSnetwork. In FIG. 7, when mobile subscriber 1055 initiates the attachprocess by turning on the network capabilities of the mobile device, anattach request may be sent by mobile subscriber 1055 to SGSN 1076. TheSGSN 1076 queries another SGSN, to which mobile subscriber 1055 wasattached before, for the identity of mobile subscriber 1055. Uponreceiving the identity of mobile subscriber 1055 from the other SGSN,SGSN 1076 may request more information from mobile subscriber 1055. Thisinformation may be used to authenticate mobile subscriber 1055 to SGSN1076 by HLR 1074. Once verified, SGSN 1076 sends a location update toHLR 1074 indicating the change of location to a new SGSN, in this caseSGSN 1076. HLR 1074 may notify the old SGSN, to which mobile subscriber1055 was attached before, to cancel the location process for mobilesubscriber 1055. HLR 1074 may then notify SGSN 1076 that the locationupdate has been performed. At this time, SGSN 1076 sends an AttachAccept message to mobile subscriber 1055, which in turn sends an AttachComplete message to SGSN 1076.

After attaching itself with the network, mobile subscriber 1055 may thengo through the authentication process. In the authentication process,SGSN 1076 may send the authentication information to HLR 1074, which maysend information back to SGSN 1076 based on the user profile that waspart of the user's initial setup. The SGSN 1076 may then send a requestfor authentication and ciphering to mobile subscriber 1055. The mobilesubscriber 1055 may use an algorithm to send the user identification(ID) and password to SGSN 1076. The SGSN 1076 may use the same algorithmand compares the result. If a match occurs, SGSN 1076 authenticatesmobile subscriber 1055.

Next, the mobile subscriber 1055 may establish a user session with thedestination network, corporate network 1089, by going through a PacketData Protocol (PDP) activation process. Briefly, in the process, mobilesubscriber 1055 may request access to the Access Point Name (APN), forexample, UPS.com, and SGSN 1076 may receive the activation request frommobile subscriber 1055. SGSN 1076 may then initiate a Domain NameService (DNS) query to learn which GGSN node has access to the UPS.comAPN. The DNS query may be sent to the DNS server within the core network1070, such as DNS 1077, which may be provisioned to map to one or moreGGSN nodes in the core network 1070. Based on the APN, the mapped GGSN1078 can access the requested corporate network 1089. The SGSN 1076 maythen send to GGSN 1078 a Create Packet Data Protocol (PDP) ContextRequest message that contains necessary information. The GGSN 1078 maysend a Create PDP Context Response message to SGSN 1076, which may thensend an Activate PDP Context Accept message to mobile subscriber 1055.

Once activated, data packets of the call made by mobile subscriber 1055may then go through radio access network 1060, core network 1070, andinterconnect network 1080, in a particular fixed-end system, or Internet1084 and firewall 1088, to reach corporate network 1089.

Thus, network elements that can invoke the functionality of call replaysystems and methods such as those described herein can include but arenot limited to Gateway GPRS Support Node tables, Fixed End System routertables, firewall systems, VPN tunnels, and any number of other networkelements as required by the particular digital network.

FIG. 8 illustrates another exemplary block diagram view of a GSM/GPRS/IPmultimedia network architecture 1100 in which call replay systems suchas those described herein can be incorporated. As illustrated,architecture 1100 of FIG. 8 includes a GSM core network 1101, a GPRSnetwork 1130 and an IP multimedia network 1138. The GSM core network1101 includes a Mobile Station (MS) 1102, at least one Base TransceiverStation (BTS) 1104 and a Base Station Controller (BSC) 1106. The MS 1102is physical equipment or Mobile Equipment (ME), such as a mobiletelephone or a laptop computer (e.g., mobile communications device 111or 113) that is used by mobile subscribers, with a Subscriber identityModule (SIM). The SIM includes an International Mobile SubscriberIdentity (IMSI), which is a unique identifier of a subscriber. The BTS1104 may be physical equipment, such as a radio tower, that enables aradio interface to communicate with the MS. Each BTS may serve more thanone MS. The BSC 1106 may manage radio resources, including the BTS. TheBSC may be connected to several BTSs. The BSC and BTS components, incombination, are generally referred to as a base station (BSS) or radioaccess network (RAN) 1103.

The GSM core network 1101 may also include a Mobile Switching Center(MSC) 1108, a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) 1110, a HomeLocation Register (HLR) 1112, Visitor Location Register (VLR) 1114, anAuthentication Center (AuC) 1118, and an Equipment Identity Register(EIR) 1116. The MSC 1108 may perform a switching function for thenetwork. The MSC may also perform other functions, such as registration,authentication, location updating, handovers, and call routing. The GMSC1110 may provide a gateway between the GSM network and other networks,such as an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) or Public SwitchedTelephone Networks (PSTNs) 1120. Thus, the GMSC 1110 providesinterworking functionality with external networks.

The HLR 1112 is a database that may contain administrative informationregarding each subscriber registered in a corresponding GSM network.Such information may also include call replay preferences for eachsubscriber. The HLR 1112 may also contain the current location of eachMS. The VLR 1114 may be a database that contains selected administrativeinformation from the HLR 1112. The VLR may contain information necessaryfor call control and provision of subscribed services for each MScurrently located in a geographical area controlled by the VLR. The VLRmay also contain call replay preferences for each subscriber. The HLR1112 and the VLR 1114, together with the MSC 1108, may provide the callrouting and roaming capabilities of GSM, as well as call replayfunctionality. The AuC 1116 may provide the parameters needed forauthentication and encryption functions. Such parameters allowverification of a subscriber's identity. The EIR 1118 may storesecurity-sensitive information about the mobile equipment.

A Short Message Service Center (SMSC) 1109 allows one-to-one shortmessage service (SMS), or multimedia message service (MMS), messages tobe sent to/from the MS 1102. A Push Proxy Gateway (PPG) 1111 is used to“push” (i.e., send without a synchronous request) content to the MS1102. The PPG 1111 acts as a proxy between wired and wireless networksto facilitate pushing of data to the MS 1102. A Short Message Peer toPeer (SMPP) protocol router 1113 may be provided to convert SMS-basedSMPP messages to cell broadcast messages. SMPP is a protocol forexchanging SMS messages between SMS peer entities such as short messageservice centers. The SMPP protocol is often used to allow third parties,e.g., content suppliers such as news organizations, to submit bulkmessages.

To gain access to GSM services, such as voice, data, short messageservice (SMS), and multimedia message service (MMS), the MS may firstregister with the network to indicate its current location by performinga location update and IMSI attach procedure. The MS 1102 may send alocation update including its current location information to theMSC/VLR, via the BTS 1104 and the BSC 1106. The location information maythen be sent to the MS's HLR. The HLR may be updated with the locationinformation received from the MSC/VLR. The location update may also beperformed when the MS moves to a new location area. Typically, thelocation update may be periodically performed to update the database aslocation updating events occur.

The GPRS network 1130 may be logically implemented on the GSM corenetwork architecture by introducing two packet-switching network nodes,a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) 1132, a cell broadcast and a GatewayGPRS support node (GGSN) 1134. The SGSN 1132 may be at the samehierarchical level as the MSC 1108 in the GSM network. The SGSN maycontrol the connection between the GPRS network and the MS 1102. TheSGSN may also keep track of individual MS's locations and securityfunctions and access controls.

A Cell Broadcast Center (CBC) 1133 may communicate cell broadcastmessages that are typically delivered to multiple users in a specifiedarea. Cell Broadcast is one-to-many geographically focused service. Itenables messages to be communicated to multiple mobile telephonecustomers who are located within a given part of its network coveragearea at the time the message is broadcast.

The GGSN 1134 may provide a gateway between the GPRS network and apublic packet network (PDN) or other IP networks 1136. That is, the GGSNmay provide interworking functionality with external networks, and setup a logical link to the MS through the SGSN. When packet-switched dataleaves the GPRS network, it may be transferred to an external TCP-IPnetwork 1136, such as an X.25 network or the Internet. In order toaccess GPRS services, the MS first attaches itself to the GPRS networkby performing an attach procedure. The MS then activates a packet dataprotocol (PDP) context, thus activating a packet communication sessionbetween the MS, the SGSN, and the GGSN.

In a GSM/GPRS network, GPRS services and GSM services may be used inparallel. The MS may operate in one three classes: class A, class B, andclass C. A class A MS may attach to the network for both GPRS servicesand GSM services simultaneously. A class A MS may also supportsimultaneous operation of GPRS services and GSM services. For example,class A mobiles may receive GSM voice/data/SMS calls and GPRS data callsat the same time.

A class B MS may attach to the network for both GPRS services and GSMservices simultaneously. However, a class B MS does not supportsimultaneous operation of the GPRS services and GSM services. That is, aclass B MS can only use one of the two services at a given time.

A class C MS can attach for only one of the GPRS services and GSMservices at a time. Simultaneous attachment and operation of GPRSservices and GSM services is not possible with a class C MS.

A GPRS network 1130 may be designed to operate in three networkoperation modes (NOM1, NOM2 and NOM3). A network operation mode of aGPRS network may be indicated by a parameter in system informationmessages transmitted within a cell. The system information messages maydirect a MS where to listen for paging messages and how to signaltowards the network. The network operation mode represents thecapabilities of the GPRS network. In a NOM1 network, a MS can receivepages from a circuit switched domain (voice call) when engaged in a datacall. The MS can suspend the data call or take both simultaneously,depending on the ability of the MS. In a NOM2 network, a MS may notreceive pages from a circuit switched domain when engaged in a datacall, since the MS is receiving data and is not listening to a pagingchannel. In a NOM3 network, a MS can monitor pages for a circuitswitched network while receiving data and vice versa.

The IP multimedia network 1138 was introduced with 3GPP Release 5, andmay include an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) 1140 to provide richmultimedia services to end users. A representative set of the networkentities within the IMS 1140 are a call/session control function (CSCF),a media gateway control function (MGCF) 1146, a media gateway (MGW)1148, and a master subscriber database, called a home subscriber server(HSS) 1150. The HSS 1150 may be common to the GSM core network 1101, theGPRS network 1130 as well as the IP multimedia network 1138.

The IP multimedia system 1140 may be built around the call/sessioncontrol function, of which there are three types: an interrogating CSCF(I-CSCF) 1143, a proxy CSCF (P-CSCF) 1142, and a serving CSCF (S-CSCF)1144. The P-CSCF 1142 is the MS's first point of contact with the IMS1140. The P-CSCF 1142 may forward session initiation protocol (SIP)messages received from the MS to an SIP server in a home network (andvice versa) of the MS. The P-CSCF 1142 may also modify an outgoingrequest according to a set of rules defined by the network operator (forexample, address analysis and potential modification).

The I-CSCF 1143 forms an entrance to a home network and hides the innertopology of the home network from other networks and providesflexibility for selecting an S-CSCF. The I-CSCF 1143 may contact asubscriber location function (SLF) 1145 to determine which HSS 1150 touse for the particular subscriber, if multiple HSSs 1150 are present.The S-CSCF 1144 may perform the session control services for the MS1102. This includes routing originating sessions to external networksand routing terminating sessions to visited networks. The S-CSCF 1144may also decide whether an application server (AS) 1152 is required toreceive information on an incoming SIP session request to ensureappropriate service handling. This decision is based on informationreceived from the HSS 1150 (or other sources, such as an applicationserver 1152). The AS 1152 may also communicate to a location server 1156(e.g., a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC)) that provides a position(e.g., latitude/longitude coordinates) of the MS 1102.

The HSS 1150 may contain a subscriber profile, including call replaypreferences, and keep track of which core network node is currentlyhandling the subscriber. It may also support subscriber authenticationand authorization functions (AAA). In networks with more than one HSS1150, a subscriber location function provides information on the HSS1150 that contains the profile of a given subscriber.

The MGCF 1146 may provide interworking functionality between SIP sessioncontrol signaling from the IMS 1140 and ISUP/BICC call control signalingfrom the external GSTN networks (not shown.) It may also control themedia gateway (MGW) 1148 that provides user-plane interworkingfunctionality (e.g., converting between AMR- and PCM-coded voice.) TheMGW 1148 may also communicate with other IP multimedia networks 1154.

Push to Talk over Cellular (PoC) capable mobile telephones may registerwith the wireless network when the telephones are in a predefined area(e.g., job site, etc.) When the mobile telephones leave the area, theymay register with the network in their new location as being outside thepredefined area. This registration, however, does not indicate theactual physical location of the mobile telephones outside thepre-defined area.

While example embodiments of call replay systems and methods such asthose described herein have been described in connection with variouscommunications devices and computing devices/processors, the underlyingconcepts can be applied to any communications or computing device,processor, or system capable of implementing the call replay systems andmethods described. The various techniques described herein can beimplemented in connection with hardware or software or, whereappropriate, with a combination of both. Thus, the methods andapparatuses for call replay systems and methods, or certain aspects orportions thereof, can take the form of program code (i.e., instructions)embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, harddrives, or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when theprogram code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as acomputer, the machine becomes an apparatus for a call replay system. Inthe case of program code execution on programmable computers, thecomputing device will generally include a processor, a storage mediumreadable by the processor (including volatile and non-volatile memoryand/or storage elements), at least one input device, and at least oneoutput device. The program(s) can be implemented in assembly or machinelanguage, if desired. The language can be a compiled or interpretedlanguage, and combined with hardware implementations.

The methods and systems for call replay as described herein can also bepracticed via communications embodied in the form of program code thatis transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electricalwiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via any other form oftransmission, wherein, when the program code is received and loaded intoand executed by a machine, such as an EPROM, a gate array, aprogrammable logic device (PLD), a client computer, or the like, themachine becomes an apparatus for a call replay system. When implementedon a general-purpose processor, the program code combines with theprocessor to provide a unique apparatus that operates to invoke thefunctionality of a call replay system. Additionally, any storagetechniques used in connection with a call replay system can invariablybe a combination of hardware and software.

While the call replay systems and methods have been described inconnection with the various embodiments of the various figures, it is tobe understood that other similar embodiments can be used ormodifications and additions can be made to the described embodiments forperforming the same functions of a call replay system without deviatingfrom the described systems and methods. For example, one skilled in theart will recognize that a call replay system as described in the presentapplication may apply to any environment, whether wired or wireless, andmay be applied to any number of such devices connected via acommunications network and interacting across the network. Therefore,call replay systems such as those described herein should not be limitedto any single embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth andscope in accordance with the appended claims.

1. A method comprising: recording a live telephone communication on a recording device to generate a recorded telephone communication; while recording the live telephone communication on the recording device, deleting any portion of the recorded telephone communication in excess of a predetermined recording period to generate an updated recorded telephone communication; on the recording device, detecting, in the live telephone communication, a spoken identifier of a participant in the live telephone communication; altering audio content of the updated recorded telephone communication to generate an altered recorded telephone communication; and responsive to detecting the spoken identifier, transmitting the altered recorded telephone communication from the recording device to a second device while the live telephone communication is ongoing.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the recording device is a component of a mobile communications device.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein altering the audio content of the updated recorded telephone communication to generate the altered recorded telephone communication comprises removing spaces from the updated recorded telephone communication, wherein spaces comprise portions of the updated recorded telephone communication where no speaking is recorded for a predetermined amount of time.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein altering the audio content of the updated recorded telephone communication to generate the altered recorded telephone communication comprises increasing a playback speed of the updated recorded telephone communication.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein altering the audio content of the updated recorded telephone communication to generate the altered recorded telephone communication comprises altering a sonic characteristic of the updated recorded telephone communication.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device is associated with the participant in the live telephone communication.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device is one of a computer executing a web browser, a mobile communications device, or a wired communications device.
 8. A system comprising: a recording component configured to record at least a portion of a live telephone communication to generate a recorded telephone communication and, while recording the live telephone communication, delete any portion of the recorded telephone communication in excess of a predetermined recording period to generate an updated recorded telephone communication; a processor configured to alter audio content of the updated recorded telephone communication to generate an altered recorded telephone communication; and a transmitter configured to transmit the altered recorded telephone communication during the live telephone communication responsive to detecting, in the live telephone communication, a spoken identifier of a participant in the live telephone communication.
 9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a controller configured to receive a command to begin recording the at least a portion of the live telephone communication and instruct the recording component to begin recording the at least a portion of the live telephone communication.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the command is a tone generated by a telephone key press.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein the command is a voice command.
 12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a receiver configured to receive a second command to stop transmitting the altered recorded telephone communication and instruct the transmitter to stop transmitting the altered recorded telephone communication.
 13. The system of claim 8, wherein a second command to stop transmitting the altered recorded telephone communication is received from a voice detection component of a telephone, wherein the voice detection component is configured to issue the command to stop transmitting the altered recorded telephone communication responsive to detecting a speaker's voice.
 14. The system of claim 8, wherein the transmitter is further configured to stop transmitting the altered recorded telephone communication upon detection of a voice of the participant in the live telephone communication.
 15. A tangible computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: recording a live telephone communication on a recording device to generate a recorded telephone communication; while recording the live telephone communication on the recording device, deleting any portion of the recorded telephone communication in excess of a predetermined recording period to generate an updated recorded telephone communication; detecting, in the live telephone communication, a spoken identifier of a participant in the live telephone communication; altering audio content of the updated recorded telephone communication to generate an altered recorded telephone communication; and responsive to detecting the spoken identifier, transmitting the altered recorded telephone communication from the recording device to a second device while the live telephone communication is ongoing.
 16. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the recording device is a component of a mobile communications device.
 17. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operation of altering the audio content of the updated recorded telephone communication to generate the altered recorded telephone communication comprises removing spaces from the updated recorded telephone communication, wherein spaces comprise portions of the updated recorded telephone communication where no speaking is recorded for a predetermined amount of time.
 18. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operation of altering the audio content of the updated recorded telephone communication to generate the altered recorded telephone communication comprises increasing a playback speed of the updated recorded telephone communication.
 19. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operation of altering the audio content of the updated recorded telephone communication to generate the altered recorded telephone communication comprises altering a sonic characteristic of the updated recorded telephone communication.
 20. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the second device is associated with the participant in the live telephone communication. 